Ant
the common name of hymenopterous (membrane-winged) insects of various genera, of the family Formicidæ, found in most temperate and tropical regions. They are small but powerful insects, and have long been noted for CELL OF BLACK NEST-FEEDING LARVÆ their remarkable intelligence and interesting habits. They live in communities regulated by definite laws, each member of the society bearing a well-defined and separate part in the work of the colony.
Each community consists of males; of females much larger than the males; and of barren females, otherwise called neu ters, workers, or nurses. The neuters are wingless, and the males and females only acquire wings for their "nuptial flight," after which the males perish, and the few females which escape the pursuit of their numerous enemies divest themselves of their wings, and either return to established nests or become the foundresses of new colonies. The neuters perform all the labors of the anthill or abode of the community; they excavate the galleries, procure food, and feed the larvæ or young ants, which are ANT destitute of organs of motion. In fine weather they carefully convey them to the surface for the benefit of the sun's heat, and carry them to a place of safety either when bad weather is threatened or the ant hill is disturbed. In like manner they watch over the safety of A 00003 B C EFF A. Larva, Black Ant, Pupae B. Soldier of Black Ant
C. Queen of Black Ant D. Honey Ant
C. Queen of Black Ant @ the nymphs or pupæ about to acquire their perfect growth. Some communities possess a special type of neuters, known as "soldiers," from the duties that especially fall upon them, and from their powerful biting jaws. Most of American ants form nests in woods, fields, or gardens, their abodes being generally in the form of small mounds rising above the surface of the ground and containthe surface of the ground and containing numerous galleries and apartments. Some excavate nests in old tree trunks.
Houses built by the common wood ant The senses of ants are well developed. as a small hay cock.
The senses of ants are well developed. adapted. They are able to recognize the for which our sense organs are not adapted. They are able to recognize the members of their own community, even when these are intoxicated, or removed separately. Their ingenuity in econseparately. omizing labor, e. g., in dropping desired Their ingenuity in econobjects from a height below-in overcoming obstacles, e. g., by themselves forming living bridges or ght to others waiting themselves forming living bridges or building more ones in the architectural devices exsubstantial inanimate hibited by their manifold nests, and in many other ways-has become a common subject of deserved admiration many other ways-has become a comthough their marvelous powers are associated with no less striking limitations, though their marvelous powers are asin their recognition after separation for months, in their care for the young or disabled, as well as in their persistent enmity to competing species and communities, ants exhibit a considerable enmity to competing species and comrange of emotional development. Some ants live on animal food, very quickly picking quite clean the skeleton of any dead animal they may light on. quickly picking quite clean the skeleton very fond of the sweet substance, called honey dew, which exudes from the bodies of aphides, or plant lice. These they sometimes keep in their nests, and sometimes tend on the plants where they feed; sometimes they even superintend times tend on the plants where they with their antennæ, they cause them to emit the sweet fluids, which the ants then greedily sip up. Various other insects are looked after by ants in a similar manner, or are found in their nests. It has been observed that some species, lar manner, 01 are found in their nests. guinea), resort to violence to obtain working ants of other species for their guinea), resort to violence to obtain able kinds of their larvæ and pupæ, which they carry off to their own nests to be carefully reared and kept as slaves. which they carry off to their own nests In temperate countries male and female though a very large proportion of them ants survive, at most till autumn, or to The neuters pass the winter in a state of torpor, and of course require no food.
The only time they require food is during the season of activity, when they have a vast number of young to feed.
Some ants of southern Europe feed on ANTACID grain, and store it up in their nests for use when required. Some species have stings as weapons, others only their powerful mandibles, or an acrid and pungent fluid (formic acid) which they can emit. The name ant is also given to the neuropterous insects otherwise called termites.